Web feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a printing, feeding and severing method and apparatus for carrying out the method. The apparatus includes a print head assembly and a platen assembly movable relatively toward and away from each other into and out of printing cooperation, mechanism for inking the print head assembly, mechanism for feeding a web of record members to between the print head assembly and the platen assembly, the web being in roll form and there being means to assist the gradual unwinding of the roll with gradual paying out of web material from the roll to the feeding mechanism, an idler contacting the web and disposed at a slight angle to the direction of feed of the web to cause the web to follow a feed edge, record severing means disposed downstream of the print head assembly and the platen assembly, and a modular support assembly of a print head of the print head assembly.

United States Patent [191 Hamisch, Sr.

[ WEB FEEDING APPARATUS Paul H. Hamisch, Sr., Dayton, Ohio [73]Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.,

Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 215,742

[75 Inventor:

[ 1 July 3,1973

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Gene A. ChurchAttorney-Joseph J. Grass ABSTRACT 1 There is disclosed a printing,feeding and severing method and apparatus for carrying out the methodThe apparatus includes a print head assembly and a platen assemblymovable relatively toward and away from each other into and out ofprinting cooperation, mechanism for inking the print head assembly,mechanism for feeding a web of record members to between the print headassembly and the platen assembly, the web being in roll form and therebeing means to assist the gradual unwinding of the roll with gradualpaying out of web material from the roll to the feeding mechanism, anidler contacting the web and disposed at a slight angle to the directionof feed of the web to cause the web to follow a feed edge, recordsevering means disposed downstream of the print head assembly and theplaten assembly, and a modular support assembly of a print head of theprint head assembly.

7 Claims, 35 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJULa I975 saw m I)? PATENIEDJULS m;

SHEU 03 OF 1; II III L lulb PATENTEU JUL 3 I975 SHEET 09H? mom mmm

k. I ZN PATENTEUJULB 1925 SHEEI 12 0F WEB FEEDING APPARATUS SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The invention comprises a web feeding method for graduallypaying material out from a suitably rotatably mounted roll using rotaryfeeding means. One useful form of the rotary feeding means comprises asingle continuously driven circular cylindrical roll mounted on a fixedaxis having a relatively hard outer surface and having a relatively highcoefficient of friction. Another useful form of rotary feeding meansincludes yieldable means in the form of flexible, resilient vanes with arelatively high coefficient of friction and is shown and described inthis application, and is shown, described and claimed in application ofRobert M. Pabodie entitled PRINTING APPARATUS having the same filingdate as this application. The method comprises passing the web materialfrom the web roll partly around and under the rotary feeding means,intermittently pulling on the web material beyond the place of contactwith the rotary feeding means, and driving the rotary feeding means at apreferably greater rate of peripheral speed than the speed at which theweb material is pulled so that the driving force between the rotaryfeeding means and the web material is decreased whenever there isslackness in the web. The method more specifically comprises extendingthe web material from partly around and under the rotary feeding meansto partly around, over and in contact with the web roll, and from thereextending the web material to the intermittent feeding means. Theinvention also comprises apparatus for carrying out the method. Theapparatus includes a rotary feeding means rotatably mounted on a fixedaxis disposed below the axis of the roll, and means for continuouslyrotating the rotary feeding means while the web is passed beneath andpartly around the rotary feeding means and partly around, over and incontact with the web roll to the intermittent feeding means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational viewshowing one side of printing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view generally along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view generally along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partly diagrammatic side elevational view showing the platenassembly in printing cooperation with the print head assembly, showingthe inking mechanism in a position in which the ink roll is inengagement with the ink transfer roll, and showing the severingmechanism as having severed a record member from the web;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 8, butshowing the ink roller as having inked the printing members during itsforward stroke and showing exaggerated16 the platen in its downwardposition;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view showing part of the linkage of the inkingmechanism in both solid and phantom line positions;

FIG. 11 is a sectional elevational view showing the manner in which theink roll is mounted for travel relative to the print head assembly;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating thesevering mechanism in both solid and full line positions;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the inking mechanismin section;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken generally along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional elevational view of apparatus by which ink isdelivered to the fountain from the sump and excess ink is returned tothe sump;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing awiper blade and ink return ducts and a header;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view showing the feeding mechanism by whichthe record members are fed;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an elevational view through the print head assembly showingthe manner in which the printing bands are mounted;

FIG. 21 is an elevational view taken generally along line 21-21 of FIG.20, but omitting the printing bands;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the modular printing bandsupport assembly-shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is an elevational sectional view taken along line 25-25 of FIG.21;

FIG. 26 is a view taken generally along line 26-26 of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the functionsof the printing apparatus are timed;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken generally along line 28-23 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a manner in which therecord severing function can be accomplished;

FIG. 30 is a schematic circuit diagram for the record feed mechanism;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of an alternate form of drive and mountingmechanism for the ink roll;

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken along line 33-33 of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a sectional view taken along line 34-3 of FIG. 33; and

FIG. 35 is a sectional view taken along line 35-35 of FIG. 33.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there isshown a printing apparatus generally indicated at 30 including a framegenerally indicated at 31. A print head assembly 32 is fixedly mountedto the frame 31 and a platen assembly generally indicated at 33 ispivotally mounted to the frame 31 by a pivot pin 34. An inking mechanismor inker generally indicated at 35 is provided for inking the print headassembly 32. A roll 36 of record members 37 arranged in web form ismounted by a rotatable reel 38 mounted by the frame 31. The web ofrecord members 37 passes under and partly around a rotary feed member98, from there it passes into contact with, over and partly around theroll 36 of record members 37 and from there onto the upper surface 39 ofthe platen assembly 33 beneath a hold-down plate 40 and an aligning roll41. From there the web of record members 37 passes between a feed wheel42 and a roll 43. From there the web of record members 37 is advanced toa rigid platen 44 of the platen assembly 33. The feed wheel 42 operatesnear the end of each machine cycle to advance the printing record memberof members 37 to a position in which the trailing edge of the advancedrecord member or members 37 are at a fixed knife 45 of a severingmechanism generally indicated at 46. The severing mechanism 46 which isdownstream of the feed wheel 42 also includes a movable knife 47. Themovable knife 47 is pivotally mounted about a pivot 48 and is cooperablewith the fixed knife 45 to sever the previously printed record member ormembers 37 from the remainder of the web.

An electric motor 49 is mounted to the frame 31. The electric motor 49drives a speed reducer 50 which in turn is connected to the input of aclutch indicated diagrammatically at 51. The clutch 51 is shown ingreater detail at 153 in US. Pat. No. 3,180,254. The output of theclutch 51 is connected to a drive shaft 52 joumaled in a bearing 53. Aneccentric generally indicated at 54 in the form of a crank 55 has aneccentrically mounted crank pin 56. The pin 56 is received by a ball 57received in a socket 57'. The socket 57' forms part of a connecting rodgenerally indicated at 58.

With reference to FIG. 3, the connecting rod socket 57' is shown tothreadably receive a rod 59. A lock nut 60 threadably received by therod or rod section 59 maintains the adjusted position of the rod 59relative to the socket 57. The rod 59 also threadably receives a pair ofnuts 61. A compression spring 62 is received about the rod 59 betweenthe nuts 61 and a socket or socket section 63. The nuts 61 are adjustedso that the spring 62 is always under some compression irrespective ofthe position of the crank pin 56. The rod 59 has an enlarged section 64received in an elongated recess 65 in the socket 63, thereby permittingrelative movement between the rod 59 and the socket 63. The socket 63movably mounts a ball 66 in a socket hole 67. The ball 66 has a hole 68in which a shaft 69 is received. The shaft 69 is rigidly connected tothe platen assembly 33. Before the clutch 51 is engaged, shaft 56 is inthe phantom line position indicated at 56' in FIG. 3. In this position,the platen 44 of the platen assembly 33 is spaced from printing members70 of the print head assembly 32. As the shaft 52 rotates clockwise(FIG. 3), the platen assembly 33 continues to move away from the printhead assembly 32 until the crank pin 56 rotates clockwise to itslowerest position (FIG. 3). As the shaft 52 continues to rotateclockwise, the platen assembly 33 starts moving toward the print headassembly 32. Before the crank 56 reaches the highest position shown bysolid lines in FIG. 3, stop screws 71 engage a stop provided by a stopplate 72 rigidly mounted to the frame 31 by a bracket 73. The bracket 73is considered to be part of the frame 31. While the stop screws 71 arein contact with the stop plate 72 the record member is in contact withthe printing members 70. The stop screws 71 are adjustable to effectadjustment of impression control.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the electric motor 49 has a gear 74secured to its output shaft 75. The gear 74 drives a gear 76 secured toa pulley 78. The gear 76 and the pulley 78 are rotatably mounted on ashaft 77. The pulley 78 drives a pulley 79 via belt 80. The pulley 79 issecured to a shaft 81. A bracket 82 secured to the frame 31 mounts theshaft 77 and a stationary bearing 83. The gear 76 and the pulley 78 aresecured to a hub member 77'. The shaft 81 is rotatably mounted by thebearing 83 and drives pulleys 84 and 85 and 99. The pulley 84 drives apulley 86 via belt 87. The pulley 86 and a pulley 88 are keyed togetherso that they rotate as a unit about stationary shaft 89. The shaft 89 issecured to the frame 31 by a bracket 90. The pulley 88 drives a pulley91 (FIG. 15) via belt 92. The pulley 91 drives the mechanism 35.

The pulley 85 (FIG. 5) drives a pulley 94 via belt 95. The pulley 94 issecured to a shaft 96 rotatably mounted by a bearing 97. A rotaryfrictional feed member 98 is secured to the shaft 96.

A pulley 99 secured to the shaft 81 drives a pulley 100 via belt 101.The pulley 100 and another pulley 102 are keyed together so that theyrotate as a unit about a stationary shaft 103. The pulley 102 drives apulley 104 (FIGS. 18 and 19) via belt 105. As best shown in FIGS. 18 and19, the pulley 104 drives the record feeding mechanism generallyindicated at 107.

With reference to FIG. 18, the platen assembly 33 is shown to becomprised of a platen frame 108 in which the shaft 103 is adjustablymounted to tension the belt 105. The tension on the belt 101 ismaintained by a pair of springs 109 (FIGS. 2 and 18). A pair of plates110 and 111 are shown to be mounted-in spaced parallel fixedrelationship with respect to each other by spacer rods 112, 113 and 114.The ends of the rods 112, 113, and 114 are suitably secured to theplates 110 and 111 to provide a unitary feed assembly frame 115. Theplates 110 and 111 of the feed assembly frame 115 are pivotally mountedby studs 116 and 117 carried by a bracket 33 secured to the platen frame108. The studs 116 and 117 pivotally mounted the solenoid housing 157.The entire feed assembly frame 115 is accordingly pivoted by the studs116 and 117 with respect to the platen frame 108. The plate 110 is shownto be in abutment with a stop screw 1 18 threadably mounted by theplaten frame 108. The stop screw 118 adjustably limits the position towhich the feed assembly frame 115 can be pivoted by a tension spring119, thereby adjusting the amount of pressure which the feed wheel 42exerts on the underside of the record web. The tension spring 119 isconnected at one end to the rod 114 and at its other end to the platenframe 108.

With reference to FIG. 19, there is shown a wrappedspring clutchgenerally indicated at 120. The clutch 120 includes a tubular sleeve 121having a flat 122. The pulley 104 matingly receives the sleeve 121 atthe flat 122 so that the pulley 104 and the sleeve 121 rotate as a unit.An annular tubular drive member 123 is pressfitted onto the sleeve 121so that the sleeve 121 and the drive member 123 rotate as a unit. Acontrol sleeve 124 is received about the drive member 123. The sleeve124 can be constructed of suitable plastic material. The

sleeve 124 has an annular external groove 125 which receives a resilientO-ring 126, composed of a material having a relatively high co-efficientof friction such as rubber. As the O-ringl26 is snugly received in thegroove 125 in a slightly stretched condition, the O-ring 126 does notrotate relative to the sleeve 124. An output driven member generallyindicated at 127 has an enlarged annular section 128, the diameter ofwhich is illustrated as being equal to the diameter of the drive member123. The feed wheel 42 is shown to be formed integrally with theenlarged annular section 128. A spring 139 is shown to be received abouta portion of the outer surface of the drive member 123 about the outersurface of the annular section 128. One end of the spring 1311 is turnedout to provide a tang 131 received in an open-ended slot 132 in thesleeve 124. The sleeve 124 is shown to have an enlarged internaldiameter as indicated at 133 to provide clearance between the spring1311 and the sleeve 124. The output driven member 127 has a reduceddiameter section 134 which extends through the sleeve 121, a spacing andretaining sleeve 135, a bushing 136, washers 137 and 138, an O- ring139, and into the knob 1411. The output driven member 127 also has astub end 141 received by a bushing 142. The bushing 142 is non-rotatablymounted by the plate 111. A set screw 143 threadably mounted by thesleeve 135 and received in a groove 144 of the section 135 prevents thedriven member 127 from shifting in a direction perpendicular to theplates 1111 and 111, but allows the member 127 to be rotated. Thebushing 136 is non-rotatably mounted by the plate 1111. In the solidline position shown in FIGS. 18 and 111, a control member 145 is shownto have a pair of blunt, spaced-apart teeth 146; the control member 145is shown in contact with the O-ring 126, thereby holding the sleeve 124and the spring 130 uncoiled or expanded so that it has a larger internaldiameter than when the clutch 120 is engaged. As the pulley 911 rotatescontinuously, the sleeve 121 and the drive member 1123 rotatecontinuously relative to the sleeve 124 and the spring 1311. While thecontrol member 145 is in contact with the O-ring 126, the spring 130 isexpanded thereby preventing the drive member 123 from driving theannular section 128 of the output member 127. When the control member145 is moved to the phantom-line position (FIG. 18) out of contact withthe O-ring 126, the spring 1311 coils up, that is, its internal diameteris reduced, thereby gripping the drive member 123. The clutch 1211 isnow engaged as the spring 1311 drivingly connects the input member 123and the output member 127. When the clutch 120 is engaged, the feedwheel 42 rotates. The web of record members 37 is fed between the feedwheel 42 and a roll 43 which is rotatably mounted in a block 148 by abearing 1511. The block 145 is suitably mounted to the platen frame 108.The outer surface of the feed wheel 42 is provided with straight knurls42 which engage the underside of theweb of record members 37. The feedwheel 42 is considerably narrower than the width of the web being fed.However, the roll 43 is long enough to engage the upper surface of theweb across a considerable portion of its width. Thus, the roll 43 servesto hold the web down against the upper surface of the platen frame 108immediately upstream of the platen 44. When the control member 145 ismoved to the phantom line position (FIG. 18) out of contact with theO-ring 126, the rotation of the O-ring 126, the sleeve 124, and thespring 131) is arrested, thereby causing the spring 1311 to uncoil orexpand. Uncoiling of the spring 1311 effects disengagement of the clutch1211 by causing the spring 1311 to move outwardly away from the outersurface of the drive member 123. Accordingly, the feed wheel 42 is nolonger driven and the movement of the web of record members 3'7 stops.it is noted that the control member 145 contacts the O-ring 126 abovethe center of the control sleeve 124 at an obtuse angle A relative tothe direction of travel of the O-ring at the point of contact. Moreover,considering a first line between the point of contact and the pivot 113,a second line perpendicular to the first line and intersecting the firstline between the point of contact and the pivot 113 passes through thecenter line of the sleeve 124. This results in effective disengagementat the clutch 1211 when the member 145 contacts the O-ring 126.

The end section 149 of the driven member 127 has a flat 1511. The knob1411 is received by the end section 149 and has a flat 151 whichcooperates with the flat 1511 of the end section 149 to prevent rotationof the knob 141) relative to the end section 1411. A friction clutch 152includes the washer which is keyed to the section 149, the O-ring 139,the washer 137 and the end surface of the bushing 136. A screw 153threadably received by the end section 149, is adjustabie to adjust theamount of frictional drag of the clutch 152. It is apparent that thefeed wheel 42 can be driven either through torque applied by the pulley1114 when the clutch 1211 is engaged, or manually by rotation of theknob but the clutch 152 frictionally holds the feed wheel 42 in theposition into which it has been advanced, either as a result of theengagement of the clutch 1211 or as the result of manually rotating theknob 1411.

A solenoid 154 (FIG. 18) mounted by the platen frame 1115 has anarmature 155. A compression spring 156 is received about the armature155 between the end of the solenoid housing 157 and a flange 158 on thearmature 155. The armature 155 is connected to the control member by apin 159. The spring 156 normally holds the control member 145 in thesolid line position (FIG. 15). Energization of the solenoid 154 causesthe armature to shift, thereby pivoting control member 145 clockwiseinto the phantom line position (FIG. 18) out of contact with O-ring 126.Energization and deenergization of the solenoid 154 is controlled by acircuit shown in F16. 3111.

The feed wheel 42 advances the web once during each machine cycle sothat a record member 37 is presented to the printing position or zonebetween the platen 44 and the printing members 711. When the recordmember 37 arrives at the printing zone, the clutch 120 is disengaged andthe feed wheel 42 stops rotating. However, as the output shaft 75 of theelectric motor 49 rotates continuously, the rotary feed member 98 iscontinuously driven. The rotary feed member 95 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6to have a hub 1611 secured to the driven shaft 96. The hub 1611 is shownto be provided with four dove-tail slots 161 for receiving respectivedrive members 162. The drive member 162 are in the form of outwardlyextending vanes or blades. The drive members 162 are composed of aflexible, resilient material preferably having a high co-efficient offriction, such as rubber. When the drive members 162 are in drivingengagement with a section of the web which has been paid out of the roll36, the drive members 162 flex slightly as they engage the web. As therotary feed member 98 continues to rotate, additional web material ispaid out of the roll 36 until gradually slackness develops. As theslackness increases, the contact between the rotary drive member 98 andthe web decreases and it can decrease to such an extent that the paidout web section looses contact with the feed member 98 as indicated byphantom lines. As rotation of the rotary feed member 98 continues, thefeed wheel 42 and the roll 43, together with the feed member 98 providesa simple arrangement for feeding the web material from the roll 36. Asthe roll 36 has a relatively large amount of inertia, and as the feedingby the feed wheel 42 is intermittent, the construction, arrangement andlocation of the feed member 98 prevents an undue amount of web materialfrom being paid out of the roll 36. This is accomplished withoutapplying any braking force either to the reel 38, to the roll 36, or tothe paid out web material, although the art is replete with suchdevices. As best shown in FIG. 5, it is noted that the reel 38 and therotary feed member 98 are disposed at the same slight angle with respectto the horizontal. Assuming the apparatus is mounted on a generallyhorizontal surface, the roll 36 will not come off the reel 38 and yetthe rotary feed member 98 can make full contact with the underside ofthe web. The peripheral speed of the drive members 162 is greater thanthe peripheral speed of the feed wheel 42.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, there is provided an aligning mechanismgenerally indicated at 163. The aligning mechanism 163 includes an arm164 pivotally mounted by the pivot pin 34. A tension spring 165 isconnected at one end to the arm 164 and at its other end to a plate 108secured to the platen frame 108. A

shaft 166 secured to the arm 164 is disposed at a slight angle withrespect to the direction of travel of the record members 37 and to aplate 108" secured to the platen frame 108. An aligning roll 41 iscomprised of a bushing 167 rotatably mounted by the shaft 166 and aone-piece molded annular frictional member 168 having a plurality ofexternal annular flanges 169. The spring urges the roll 41 toward platensurface 39. As the web advances, the web rotates the roll 41 whichcauses the web to move into alignment with an upstanding guide edgeprovided by the plate 108".

The platen 44 is shown in FIG. 7 to be adjustably mounted to the platenframe 108 by screws 170. The screws 170 pass through elongated slots 171in the platen frame 108 and are rotatably received by respective nuts172. In this manner, the platen 44 and the knife 45 formed at theterminal end of the platen 44 can be adjusted relative to the movableknife 47.

A bracket 173 is suitably secured to the platen frame 108. The bracket173 threadably receives the adjusting screws 71. Lock nuts 71 lock therespective screws 71 in their adjusted positions. The bracket 173 mountspivot 48. The movable knife 47 has a pair of flanges or arms 176 and 177which are pivotally mounted by the pivot 48. A link 178 is connected tothe arm 176 by a pivot pin 179, and a link 180 is connected to the arm177 by a pivot pin 181. The links 178 and 180 are identical and haverespective elongated slots 182 and 183 and respective stop shoulders 184and 185. A solenoid 186 is secured to the bracket 73. Armature 187 (FIG.7) is shown to be received in a compression spring 188. The spring 188is compressed between the end of the solenoid 186 and a washer 189 whichbears against a pin 190'. A generally U-shaped yoke 190 secured to theend of the armature 187 by a screw 191 has a pair of forwardly extendingarms 192 and 193. The arm 192 is pivotally connected to the link 178 bya pivot pin 194, and the arm 193 is pivotally connected to the link 180by a pivot pin 195. Arms 192 and 193 have respective stop shoulders 192'and 193'.

The severing mechanism 46 is only effective when the solenoid 186 hasbeen energized. The solenoid 186 is energized during the time in themachine cycle when the shoulders 184 and are below a stop face 196provided by a plate 197 secured to the bracket 73. Energization of thesolenoid 186 drives the links 178 and 180 against the end 198 of theplate 197. As the platen assembly 33 moves upwardly, the shoulders 184and 185 of the respective links 178 and 180 engage the stop face 196(FIG. 8) to pivot the movable knife 47 counterclockwise into severingcooperation with the knife 45, thereby severing a record member 37 fromthe web. During the remainder of the machine cycle, the platen assembly33 moves away from the print head 32. Upon deenergization of thesolenoid 186, the springs 199 and 200 respectively connecting the link178 and the bracket 173, and the link 180 and the bracket 173 causes themovable knife 47 to pivot to its clockwise position shown in FIG. 9.

The spring 188 normally holds the yoke and the pins 194 and in theposition shown for example in FIG. 7. Assuming that the solenoid 186 isnot energized, the shoulders 184 and 185 will not engage the stop face196 as the platen assembly 33 moves upwardly. Accordingly, the movableknife 47 will remain in its initial position relative to the knife 45(FIGS. 1 and 7).

The movable knife 47 has a manually engageable upstanding tab or handle47' by which the movable knife 47 can be moved into record severingrelationship with respect to the knife 45. As the movable knife 47pivots, the slots 182 and 183 allow the links 178 and 180 to be moveddownwardly as viewed in the drawings. The springs 199 and 200 thereafterreturn the movable knife 47 to its initial position shown in FIGS. 1 and7. Flange 177 has a projection 177' which is urged into control with astop 177" by springs 199 and 200 to define the initial position.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7, the bracket 173 is shown to have anextension 201. A resilient deflector generally indicated at 202 includesinwardly and upwardly extending spring fingers 203 which in their normalpositions extend to immediately adjacent and slightly below the cuttingedge of the knife 45. The marginal ends 204 of the spring fingers 203are turned away from the edge of the knife 45. The spring fingers 203are integrally joined to a mounting portion 205 disposed in underlyingrelationship to the extension 201. Screws 206 secure the mountingportion 205 to the extension 201. When the movable knife 47 is actuatedinto cutting relationship with the knife 45 to sever a record member 37from the web, the movable knife 47 deflects the spring fingers 203 fromthe position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8. As themovable knife returns from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the positionshown in FIG. 7, the spring fingers 203 also return to the positionshown in FIG. 7. The fingers 203 not only prevent the severed recordmember 37 from falling out of reach in the apparatus 30, but they alsoserve to propel the individual record members into a discharge chuteindicated by phantom lines 206 in FIG. 7. The chute 206 is disposedbetween arms 176 and 177 of the movable knife 47.

Referring to FIGS. 11' and 13 through 17, and initially to FIG. 13,there is shown the inking mechanism generally indicated at 35. Theinking mechanism 35 includes a reservoir or fountain 21 1 by which anink supply roll 212 and an ink transfer roll 213 are mounted. The inktransferring roll 213 is an anilox roll having typically microscopicgeometric shaped holes or cells in its surface. These holes or cellscarry the ink to an ink roll 251. The fountain 211 has a fountain cover211'. The ink supply roll 212 has a hub 214 and an ink receptive cover215 made of rubber. The hub 214 is keyed to a shaft 216 by a key 217. Ascrew rod 218 threadably received by the shaft 216 is shown to betightened to drive the key 217 into keying engagement with the hub 214.The shaft 216 is rotatably mounted near one end by a bearing 219 in anarm 220 of a U- shaped frame generally indicated at 221'. The shaft 216'is also mounted near its other end by abearing 222 received by the otherarm 223 of the U-shaped frame 221. The frame 221 is pivotably mounted bya shaft or pivot 224 mounted at opposed ends 225 and 226 by the fountain211. A set screw 227 prevents the frame 211 from shifting axially alongthe shaft 224.

The frame 221 has an extension 228 with a hole 229. A screw 230 passesthrough a hole 231 in the fountain 211 and a hole 229 in the extension228. A rod 232 having a threaded bore 233 threadably receives the screw230. A compression spring 234 is received about the screw 230 betweenthe screw head 235 and the fountain 211. Tightening the screw 230 causesthe ink supply roll 212 to be pressed more tightly against the inktransferring roll 213, thereby diminishing the amount of ink which istransferred to the ink transferring roll 213 by the ink supply roll 212.Loosening the screw 230 results in more ink being transferred to the inktransferring roll 213.

The ink transferring roll 213 is secured to a mounting shaft 236 by'aset screw 237. The shaft 236 is rotatably mounted in bearings 238 and239. The shaft 236 is driven by the pulley 91. A pinion 240 secured tothe shaft 236 is in meshing engagement with a gear 241 secured to theshaft 216. As the external diameter of the ink supply roll 212 and theink transferring roll 213 are the same, the gears 240 and 241 cause theink supply roll 212 to be driven at a slower rate of speed than the inktransfer roll 213. This difference in the peripheral speeds of the rolls212 and 213 results in a slight wiping action or slippage as the rolls212 and 213 rotate in the directions of arrows 212' and 213 (FIG. 13).This wiping action is found particularly beneficial with inks ofrelatively high viscosities in effecting diminuation in the amount ofink transferred to the ink transferring roll 213. As the amount ofpressure adjustment between the rolls 212 and 213 is relatively smallupon the loosening or tightening of the screw 230, the correct meshingengagement between the gears 240 and 241 is not affected.

A wiper blade 242 secured to the fountain 211 is slightly longer andthus extend slightly beyond both ends of the roll 212. The blade 242both limits the amount of ink which is transferred to the roll 213 anddistributes the ink relatively evenly over the surface of the roll 212.As best shown in FIG. 17, the amount of ink I in the fountain 211 islimited by a weir 244. Excess ink in the fountain 211 pours over theweir 244 and gravitates through openings 245 between a plurality ofbosses 246 which receive screws 243. From openings 245 the ink flowsgravitationally through a plurality of drain holes 247 (one of which isshown) into ink return header 248 from which the excess ink is returnedvia flexible tube 250 to a sump in the form of a glass jar 249.

An ink roll 251 is shown in FIG. 13 to be in inking cooperation with theink transferring roll 213. The ink roll 251 includes a tubular sleeve252 having a covering 253 of ink receptive material such as rubber.Guide rollers 254 and 255 are secured to a shaft 256. The sleeve 254 isrotatable on the shaft 258 by bearings 256 and 257.

A knurled wheel 259 is secured to the shaft 236 by a set screw 259'. Thewheel 259 drivingly engages an annular rubber wheel 260 secured to thesleeve 252 when the roll 251 is in inking relationship with the roll 213as shown in FIG. 13. A gap 261 between the covering 253 and the wheel260 to prevent any ink from being transferred to the wheel 260 from thecovering 253.

With reference to FIG. 11, the rolls 254 and 255 are shown to be incontact with guide means in the form of respective cams 262 and 263. Thediameter of the wheel 260 is slightly larger than the diameters of therolls 254 and 255. The wheel 260 is shown to be in contact with a plate262A the lower surface of which is spaced slightly above the lowersurface of the cam 262 as viewed in FIG. 11. The ink roll 251 isnormally in the position shown by phantom lines 251 in FIG. 13. As theplaten assembly 33 pivots downwardly, the ink roll 251 is driven fromthe position shown by phantom lines 251' to the position shown byphantom lines 251 The cam tracks 262 and 263 can be individually andindependently adjustably upwardly and downwardly relative to theprinting members carried by the print head assembly 32. Adjustment ofthe cam tracks 262 and 263 by screws 262' and 263' which extend throughenlarged slots 262" and 263" adjusts the amount of pressure or inkingcontact between the roll 251 and the printing members 70, therebycontrolling the application of ink to the printing members 70. While theink roll 251 is moving from the position shown by phantom lines 251' tothe position shown by phantom lines 251", the ink roll 251 is driven bythe plate 262A which is in driving engagement with the wheel 260. Thefact that the wheel 260 has a slightly larger diameter than the covering253 of the ink roll is of no practical consequence in that the contactarea between the printing members 70 and the covering 253 is many timesgreater than the contact area between the plate 262A and the wheel 261).Accordingly, the ink roll 251 rolls across the printing members 70without slipping.

With reference to FIG. 1, a gear section 264 specifically in the form ofa gear segment, the center of rotation of which is the axis of the pivot34, is secured to the platen frame 108 by screws 265. Accordingly, therack 264 rotates as a unit with the platen frame 108. A pinion 266 issecured to a shaft 267 pivotally mounted in a stationary bracket 268.The bracket 268 is secured to the frame 31. An arm 269 secured to theshaft 267 carries a roller 270. With reference to FIG. 9, as the platenassembly 33 moves generally downwardly, the rack 264 drives the pinion266 and the arm 269 counterclockwise. The roller 270 is received in acam slot 271 of a cam follower 272. The follower 272 is secured to ashaft 274 pivotal about a bearing 273 suitably secured to the frame 31.A rocker 275 secured to the shaft 274 carries a spaced apart pair ofball joints 276 and 277. The ball joints 276 and 277 are received byrespective sockets 278 and 279. The ball joints 276 and 277 and thesockets 278 and 279 are identical in construction. Accordingly, only theball joint 277 and its respective socket 279 are shown in detail in FIG.10.

With reference to FIG. 10, the ball joint 277 is shown to have athreaded shank 280 threadably received in a threaded bore 281 in therocker 275. The ball joint 277 includes a spherical ball 282 joined tothe shank 280. The distance between the ball 282 and the centerline ofthe shaft 274 can be varied by turning the ball joint 277. This changesthe length of the are through which the ball 282 travels. A lock nut 283and washer 284 lock the shank 280 in its adjusted position. The socket279 includes a housing 285 and an opposed pair of socket members 286 and287. The housing 285 has a threaded bore 288 which receives a screw 289.A compression spring 290 is compressed between the socket member 286 andthe screw 289. The socket member 287 is suitably rotatably mounted inthe housing 285, but the socket member 286 is slidable generally to theleft (FIG. away from the socket member 287 to further compress thespring 290 as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 10 during the inking of theink roll 251.

Rods 291 and 292 are suitably secured at their one ends to the socketmembers 287 of the respective sockets 278 and 279. The other ends of therods 291 and 292 are threadably received by respective connectors 293and 294. The connectors 293 and 294 are connected by pivot pins 295 and296 to respective carriages 297 and 298. The carriage 297 (FIG. 8)rotatably mounts rollers 299, 300 and 301 by respective pivot pins 299,300' and 301. The carriage 298 (FIG. 1) rotatably mounts rollers 302,303, and 304 by respective pivot pins 302, 303 and 304'. The rollers299, 300 and 301 are in guided rolling contact with a guide track 305shown in detail in FIG. 11. The rollers 302, 303 and 304 makethree-point contact with the track 305. The rollers 302, 303 and 304 arein guided, rolling, three-point contact with a guide track 306 (FIG. 1).Links 307 and 308 are mounted to carriages 297 and 298 by respectivepivots 309 and 310. The 0pposite ends of the shaft 258 are mounted bythe arms 307 and 308. Springs 309' and 310' connected to respectivelinks 307 and 308 and carriages 297 and 298 urge rollers 254 and 255against respective cam tracks 262 and 263.

With reference to FIG. 16, the jar 249 is mounted by a holder 311secured to the frame 31. A cap 312 is threadably secured to the jar 249.The cap 312 has a large opening 313. A metal plate 314 and acompressible liner 315 are clamped between end wall 316 of the cap 312and the terminal end of the jar 249. A pump generally indicated at 317is shown to include a tubular pump body 318. The pump body 318 has anenlarged external diameter section or flange 319 and a threaded section320. A nut 321 received by the threaded section 320 bears against theline 315 and draws the flange 319 against the plate 314 to mount thepump in an upright position. Spaced slightly above the lower termainalend 322 of the pump body 318 are a plurality of inlet ports 323. A ball324 is received in a recess in the lower end of the pump body 318. Ahelical spring 325 receives a rod 326. One end of the spring 325contacts the ball 324 which acts as a bearing for the spring 325. Theother end of the rod 326 extends to about the end of the pump body 318.The spring 325 exerts a gripping force in the rod as the outsidediameter of the rod 326 is greater than the internal diameter of thespring 325 before the rod 326 is inserted into the spring 325.Accordingly, the spring 325 and the rod 326 are rotatable as a unit.There is only a slight amount of clearance between the outside of thespring 325 and the inside bore 327 of the pump body 318. The spring 325extends all the way from the lower end of the rod 326 (FIG. 16) to theslotted marginal end 328 (FIG. 15) of a connector 329 secured to theshaft 216. The end of the spring 325 has a tang 330 which extends intothe slot 331 of the slotted end 328, thereby connecting or keying thespring 325 to the connector 329. As the shaft 216 and the connector 329rotate, the spring 325 rotates within a flexible plastic tube 332. Theflexible tubes 250 and 332 are curved and the spring 325 conformsgenerally to the internal contour of the tube 325. The portion of thespring 325 in the bore 327 is not in the same axis as the drive shaft216. The tube 332 is received about a tubular extension 333 of thefountain 211. A wire stiffener 334 is wrapped about the marginal endportion 335 of the tube 332. The stiffener 334 insures that the portion335 of the tube 332 between the upper and lower passes 92' and 92" ofthe continuously moving belt 92 does not come into contact with the belt92. Similarly, a wire stiffener 336 is wrapped about the marginal endportion 337 of the tube 250. The stiffener 336 insures that the portion337 of the flexible tube 250 does not come into contact with the lowerpass 92" of the belt 92.

The lower end of the tube 250 is connected to a tubular fitting 338(FIG. 16). The fitting 338 has a flange 339 and a threaded section 340.A nut 341 secures the fitting 338 to the plate 314.

With reference to FIG. 14, as the shaft 216 rotates continuously, thespring 325 is also continuously rotated within the flexible tube 332.The spring 325 extends into the tubular pump body 318 and rotatestogether with the rod 326. The rod 326 fills up the space within thecoils of the springs 325. As the spring 325 rotates, ink I in the jar249 is drawn through the inlets 323. As the ink I has a relatively highviscosity, the ink I trapped between the rod 326 and the bore 327 of thepump body 318 and between the coils of the spring 325 is conveyedupwardly. The ink I in the tube 332 above the rod 326 completely fillsthe space in the tube 332 which is not occupied by the spring 325.Accordingly, the continuous rotation of the spring 325 causes ink to bedelivered continuously through the pump body 318, through the flexibletube 332 and through the fitting 333 (FIG. 14) into the fountain 211 asindicated by arrow 1'. The ink I supplied to the fountain 211 alwaysexceeds the amount required so that excess ink is continuously returningthrough the header 248 to the jar 249 via the tube 250. The inside ofthe jar 249 is at atmospheric pressure because of aligned vent holes314' and 315' in the plate 314 and the liner 315, respectively.

With references to FIG. 20, the print head assembly 32 is shown toinclude a pair of print heads 341 and 342 mounted by a print headassembly frame 32". The frame 32" is suitably secured to the machineframe 31. Each print head 34] and 342 rotatably mounts a re-

1. Web feeding apparatus, comprising: means for mounting a roll of webmaterial, means for intermittently feeding web material from the roll,rotary feeding means spaced from the roll and frictionally engaging theweb, means for continuously driving the rotary feeding means, the rotaryfeeding means being disposed relative to the web roll and to theintermittent feeding means that the section of web material between theweb roll and the intermittent feeding means extends partly around and incontact with the rotary feeding means when the section of web materialis taut to effect paying additional web material out of the roll andincreased slackness in the section of web material causes the webmaterial to decrease its contact with the rotary feeding means todecrease the rate at which the web material is paid out of the roll. 2.Web feeding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheralsurface speed of the rotary feeding means is greater than the rate offeed of the intermittent feeding means.
 3. Web feeding apparatus asdefined in claim 1, wherein the web material comprises record members,and the apparatus further comprises printing means for printing on therecord members.
 4. Web feeding apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinthe center of the rotary feeding means is disposed at a lower level thanthe center of the web roll so that increased slackness in the section ofweb material causes the section of web material to droop gravitationallyto decrease its contact with the rotary feeding means.
 5. Web feedingapparatus, comprising: means for mounting a roll of web material, meansfor intermittently feeding web material from the roll, rotary feedingmeans disposed below and spaced from the web roll, means forcontinuously driving the rotary feeding means, the web materialextending (a) beneath and partly around the rotary feeding means, (b)from there partly around, over and in contact with the web roll, and (c)from there to the intermittent feeding means, tautness in the webmaterial enabling the rotary feeding means to pay additional webmaterial out of the roll and increased slackness in the web materialdecreasing the amount of web material which the rotary feeding meanspays out of the web roll.
 6. Method of feeding a web, comprising thesteps of: providing a roll of web material, providing frictional rotaryfeeding means, passing web material from the web roll partly around andinto contact with the rotary feeding means, intermittently pulling onthe web material beyond the place of contact with the rotary feedingmeans, driving the rotary feeding means at a greater rate of speed thanthe speed at which the web material is pulled so that the driving forcebetween the rotary feeding means and the web material is decreasedwhenever there is slackness in the web.
 7. Method of feeding a web,comprising the steps of: providing a roll of web material, providingfrictional rotary feeding means below and spaced from the web roll,passing web material from the web roll partly around and into contactwith the rotary feeding means, passing the web material from the webroll partly around and in contact with the underside of the rotaryfeeding means, from there passing the web material around, over and intocontact with the web roll, and from there intermittently pulling on theweb material, tautness in the web material enabling the rotary feedingmeans to pay additional web material out of the web roll and increasedslackness in the web material causing a decrease in the amount of webmaterial paid out of the web roll.